Toothaches | Cause, Treatment & Prevention

A toothache is a pain in or around a tooth that may be caused by:

·         Tooth decay

·         Abscessed tooth

·         Tooth fracture

·         A damaged filling

·         Repetitive motions, such as chewing gum or grinding teeth

·         Infected gums

Symptoms of a toothache may include

• Tooth pain that may be sharp, throbbing, or constant. In some people, pain results only when pressure is applied to the tooth.
• Swelling around the tooth
• Fever or headache
• Foul-tasting drainage from the infected tooth
•  

When Should I See a Dentist About a Toothache?

See your dentist as soon as possible about your toothache if:

You have a toothache that lasts longer than 1 or 2 days

Your toothache is severe

You have a fever, earache, or pain upon opening your mouth wide

Proper identification and treatment of dental infections is important to prevent its spread to other parts of the face and skull and possibly even to the bloodstream.

What Happens When I Go to the Dentist for a Toothache?

To treat your toothache, your dentist will first obtain your medical history and conduct a physical exam. He or she will ask you questions about the pain, such as when the pain started, how severe it is, where the pain is located, what makes the pain worse, and what makes it better. Your dentist will examine your mouth, teeth, gums, jaws, tongue, throat, sinuses, ears, nose, and neck. X-rays may be taken as well as other tests, depending on what your dentist suspects is causing your toothache.

What Treatments Are Available for a Toothache?

Treatment for a toothache depends on the cause. If a cavity is causing the toothache, your dentist will fill the cavity or possibly extract the tooth, if necessary. A root canal might be needed if the cause of the toothache is determined to be an infection of the tooth's nerve. Bacteria that have worked their way into the inner aspects of the tooth cause such an infection. An antibiotic may be prescribed if there is fever or swelling of the jaw. Phototherapy with a cold laser may be used to reduce the pain and inflammation associated with the toothache.

How Can Toothaches Be Prevented?

Since most toothaches are the result of tooth decay, following good oral hygiene practices can prevent toothaches. Good oral hygiene practices consist of brushing regularly with a fluoride-containing toothpaste, flossing once daily, and seeing your dentist twice a year for professional cleaning. In addition to these practices, eat foods low in sugar and ask your dentist about sealants and fluoride applications.

Source

http://www.webmd.com

Pizza Palate Burns | Treatment, Home Remedies and Prevention

After taking first bite of steaming hot pizza or drinking initial sip of hot coffee, we experience pain across the roof of the mouth because of the burn caused by the hot cheese, liquid.

 ‘Minor burns to the hot food’ is a common experience. The palate can also be burnt due to various other hot liquids or even foods; but called as pizza palate as is caused mostly by the pizza and considered as the most common culprit.

Pizza Palate burns

The cheese on top holds in the heat. Pizza can be upto 200 dregee F when put in the mouth. A pizza burn will heal on its own. Of all the parts of the body, mouth has the greatest healing potential. Almost all the cells of the mouth turn over almost every few days.

Xerostomia: subjective feeling of dry mouth | Cause, Symptoms & treatment

Xerostomia occurs as a consequence of the decrease of the flow of saliva. But only when salivary flow is reduced by 50% or more notice the dry mouth or xerostomia.

Xerostomia affects 46% of the population. It usually appears as the clinical manifestation of salivary gland dysfunction but sometimes dry mouth or xerostomia may occur with a normal flow of saliva.

Intake of drugs is the leading cause of dry mouth. There is a correlation between the degree of dryness and the amount of drugs. 400 types of drugs produce xerostomia or dry mouth.

Dry mouth is the leading cause of tooth decay.

What Causes Xerostomia

·         Radiotherapy in head and neck cancer

·         Intake of medications: antidepressants, antihistamines, diuretics

·         Autoimmune diseases: Sjogren's Syndrome

How To Brush Your Teeth

Brushing your teeth is not just for a whiter smile and fresher breath, it's important for your overall health. When you brush, you remove plaque—a thin film of bacteria that sticks to your teeth and will cause cavities, gum disease, and if you ignore it long enough, will cause your teeth to fall out! You know why to brush, but if you would like to learn how to brush your teeth effectively, this article is for you. Read on!

Part 1 of 3: Using the Right Tools